Michael Burgess: All Whites must improve discipline

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz

The All Whites will have to improve their discipline and self-control if they want to have any hope of progressing to the 2018 World Cup.

While their performance in the 2-1 loss to Mexico was highly impressive - certainly the best attacking display in more than two years - the New Zealand side were also guilty of letting their emotions spill over.

It's always a fine balance between head and heart, passion and precision but cool heads will always prevail.

The scenes at the end of the match were regrettable, and in another situation Michael Boxall would have been fortunate to stay on the field after his two footed lunge at a Mexican defender.

Sure, he was provoked by a cynical professional foul but it was out of character for Boxall.

And at that stage the All Whites were still in the hunt for an historic draw, but they all seemed to get mentally distracted by the melee.

Ryan Thomas, who was again outstanding, also incurred an unnecessary yellow card in the first half after reacting to a Mexican shove in his face.

The Mexican frustrated the All Whites with their antics, but that's part of football, especially from that area of the world.

It doesn't happen so much in friendlies, and isn't really a factor in the Oceania scene, so it is relatively rare for the New Zealand team.

The key point is this; whoever the All Whites face in November, assuming they progress past the Solomon Islands in August, it will be exponentially worse.

South American teams are the masters of gamesmanship; they know all the tricks to get opponents booked - or worse - and will do everything possible to put the other team off their game.

Whoever New Zealand might play - Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia or Paraguay - they will be absolutely desperate and under intense pressure, after missing out on an automatic qualifying spot.

The Socceroos found this out the hard way, as playoff series against Argentina (1993) and Uruguay (2001) turned into a dirty war, on and off the field, especially the away leg.

All Whites players' - and their coaches as well - will be subjected to intense provocation.

Part of the game plan will be to draw fouls and bookings, especially if New Zealand goes into the first leg with a group of players one yellow card away from suspension, as happened against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

In that situation it's as important to keep your head in battle as it is to wear your heart on the sleeve.

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